Commissioned Gunner RN
 

Just a little confused by an entry found in an old copy of a wartime magazine.
It records the passing, in Immington [Immingham, Lincs] of an ex-colleague, 'Lt EG Haycraft RN (Collector)'.

I have scanned his photo, which looks very much like khaki OSD with a RN cap badge, and medals, presumably Gt War.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists Ernest George Haycraft, 59 years, Commissioned Gunner, as having dies on 31.08.41. and buried in Immingham.

Naval-History.net lists amongst casualties on 31.08.41.
'Beaver II, cycling accident :*HAYCRAFT, Ernest G, Commissioned Gunner (T), died'.

HMS Beaver II was part of 24th Mine Laying Flotilla, based at Immingham.

So what is a 'RN (Collector)', and why is a 'Commissioned Gunner' serving in the navy, wearing OSD aged 59?

Stephen.

Yes, definitely a Royal Naval Division cap badge.
A commissioned gunner would not be a Royal Artillery rank, but a naval gunner who has been commissioned to officer status. He would have worn a narrow half-ring on the cuff, so one rank below a sub-lieutenant.
Cheers,
Alex

He appears to have been attached to the Army by the look of it. Given his age he may have been with the Home Guard. Off topic, he wears the medal ribbon of the Royal Humane Society on his right breast.

The "(T)" in his rank signifies that he is a Gunner (Torpedos). According to some very quick and incomplete searching, Mr. Haycraft's seniority as a "Gunner" dates from 1913 (according to a Navy List of 1918) and that he had served in Teazer from June 1917.

His Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal dates from 1914

Apparently he was promoted from Gunner (T) to Commissioned Gunner (T) in 1941 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...5203/page/3677

And some details of his RHS Bronze Medal (including the typo of his name)

http://www.lsars.org.uk/bronz14s.htm

Interesting info, especially the RHS award.
I don't think he was Home Guard as his original place of employment was the County of London Electricity Supply Co (CLESCO) in Bournemouth. It was the company magazine that contained the info, and if he had been Home Guard it would have said so (as other articles do).

At 59 I presume he is too old to be a Regular RN man, so presume he was Royal Naval Reserve. In which case what was a 'Gunner Torpedoes' be doing on a small inshore minelayer?

As you will have gathered by now, I know less than nothing about the Senior Service.

Stephen.

At his age, he may have been RN prior to WWI, where he could have done the gunnery trade. With the numbers of reservists available at the start of WWI he was obviously sent to the RND, hence the RND badges. With his seniority he was probably just used in an available post to help out.
Cheers,
Alex

Alex, he wasn't a reservist, he was serving on board HMS Laindrail when the Great War started, see posts 4 and 5. He died in 1941 at the age of 59 and he looks that age in the photo in post 1 so it was taken long after the Great War ended. Whatever the uniform is that he is wearing, it's not RND.

Hi Hoot
I didn't know his history so was just suggesting an option why he would be wearing a WWI RND badge.
Cheers,
Alex

It's certainly a puzzler, but then, that's what this forum is all about. :D

Commissioned gunner
 

Thanks for your submissions, it certainly is a puzzle: one we will probably never solve.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Stephen.